Best job search websites

Finding a job is work in and of itself, and needless to say, pounding the pavement can often leave you pounding your fist in frustration. And with unemployment hovering around eight percent according to the United States Department of Labor, it’s no surprise that you may be looking for work given our current economic state. Although the job market may look a little bleak and barren at times, there are plenty of jobs out there for the taking — you just need to know where to look.

Numerous social networking and job search websites are available at your disposal online, whether you’re a part-time student looking to supplement your income or a former CEO on the hunt for the next big startup. The competition may be nonexistent or even over-the-top at times, but just knowing people are hiring offers some piece of mind.

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. Here is our guide to some of the best job search websites available at your fingertips. Touch up those resumes and start clicking.

Indeed: Indeed is arguably (and probably) the largest job search engine on the planet. With more than a billion job searches a month and hundreds of thousands of new postings each week, it’s no surprise the company makes that claim. You can create a free, tailored profile, upload a resume, and search job postings aggregated from company pages, associations, and various listings from across the Web. The search results are vast as well as thorough, whether you search by category, location, or even starting salary. The mobile app, email alerts, and search plugins are just a few of the added perks. The website is relatively simple, but sometimes that’s all you need.

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SimplyHired: SimplyHired offers one of the most robust, online job databases out there. The search engine company taps into job listings from across the Web, utilizing information from local newspapers to government websites and everything in between. You can search and browse for specific jobs by title, company, or even skillset and refine the results by your desired location. A free account also allows you to upload your resume for personalized results, manage recent searches, setup email alerts and more. And with more than five million jobs, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

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LinkedIn: LinkedIn is the premiere social networking site for professionals, but it’s also a great free tool for crowdsourcing and landing jobs. You can create a personalized, resume-like profile touting your work experience and various skills, and send invitations to other LinkedIn users to join their network. It works in a similar fashion to the six degrees of separation idea; once you’re connected with another user, you can peruse their network and create valuable contacts to further your connections with other users. The website also serves as an online job board where employers can post available openings and LinkedIn users can apply.

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Craigslist: Craigslist isn’t just used for landing a free sofa or renting out a spare bedroom in your house. Although the website is more stripped down and harder to navigate than some of the other options, it’s still is a fantastic resource and an appropriate avenue for checking out the current job landscape. Just pick your desired location and one of the numerous job categories (i.e. education, government, hospitality) to begin. Be forewarned though, some of the categories can be overly broad, scammers are abundant, and employers are typically bombarded with applicants.

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Monster: Monster.com was once the king of online job boards. Although that may no longer be the case, the website still serves as yet another great option for job hunting with more than a million available listings. You can browse and search listings by wage, time or category among other things, and upload your resume for greater specificity and customization. The website also offers career advice including resume and salary negotiation tips, potential job interview questions and more. It’s not the most extensive of the job search websites, but Monster does a phenomenal job when the search engine is coupled with the career tips and a noteworthy support forum.

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Dice: Dice.com has been the go-to option for technology and engineering jobs since its inception in the early ‘90s. The site offers approximately 80,000 jobs listings on any given day, whether you’re looking for an entry-level position at a small Silicon Valley startup or a coveted position at Google or Microsoft. Users can create a profile, upload a resume and search postings from around the globe. Dice also offers tech news, career advice and a lively support forum that covers topics from computer forensics to tips for understanding seemingly cryptic job descriptions. For more specialty job sites, try your luck with eFinancialCareers for finance jobs or MediaBistro for all things media.

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CareerBuilder: CareerBuilder.com isn’t the best job search website available, but it remains one of the most widely used and popular. It offers all the basic features and allows you to browse and search job postings by skillset, company, and location, among other attributes. A free account gives you options for uploading your resume, managing your job history, and accessing the comprehensive salary calculator. The site even offers a free job competition report so you can get a glimpse of whom you’re up against for any job you apply for. It’s not the most fancy of sites, but it’s simple, straightforward, and to the point.

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TweetMyJobs: TweetMyJobs.com is an entirely different breed of social networking — one that beautifully combines social media with the painstaking task of finding a job. All you have to do is select which types of jobs you’re interested in (or “job channels” as the site refers to them) and connect with your Facebook and Twitter profile. TweetMyJobs will then send you tailored job recommendations directly to your email, mobile or Twitter account depending on your preferences. You also can create a custom profile and upload a resume to speed up the application process. It’s a great method for Twitter addicts to stay up to snuff on the current job market.

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USAJobs: USAJobs.gov is the U.S. government’s official site for federal jobs and their accompanying information (i.e. eligibility, benefits, salary). Although the site is a bit limited, there are still thousands of jobs to comb through, whether you’re on the hunt for that ideal job researching soil for the government or looking to join the team as a Hazmat specialist. USAJobs is current, frequently updated, and often features government positions other job search websites may have missed. You can even apply through the website to streamline the application process.

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Internships: Internships.com is a great option if you’re a student looking to gain some valuable work experience or if you’re just not looking for a full-fledged job. The free-to-use website is one of the largest internship hubs to date and typically features more than 60,000 positions at more than 25,000 companies scattered across the country. You can search by paid or unpaid internships, full- or part-time, and a slew of other options including category, company, and location. Plus, the site offers a mobile app and resume templates if you’re just beginning your hunt.

What do you think of our picks for the best websites for job hunting? Did you have better luck landing that dream gig using a different site? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.